5 things, Channel partner programs, CSPs, MSP, VAR

5 Channel Partner Updates: 20 Oct 2015

Good morning, channel partners. Here are five technology news updates, insights, chatter, gossip and plenty more to start your day for Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015. Actually, today's update involves 18 items (yowzers... but they're quick reads) for VARs, managed services providers (MSPs) and cloud services providers (CSPs) to sip on.
Steve Brazier
Steve Brazier
18. Cloud Dollars: Is the cloud's growth driven by low interest rates -- and will growth slow down as interest rates rise? Hmmm... Canalys President and CEO Steve Brazier seemed to be suggesting that during a recent keynote in Europe. Rumor has it LogicNow's Dave Sobel was in the house taking notes during that recent presentation... 17. RMM, PSA and Backup: Acronis Backup Cloud is now integrated into the Comodo ONE, which claims to be a free RMM and PSA platform... The combined solution is available now from the Comodo ONE app store. 16. California Privacy Laws: If you manage data for a living in the United States, you likely know about HIPAA and Sarbanes-Oxley. But don't overlook state-level regulations -- like the new California Electronic Communications Privacy Act -- which protects consumers from a range of digital intrusions... 15. Google Apps vs Office 365... And IBM: ChannelE2E told you yesterday about Alphabet's free Google Apps for Work offer for Microsoft Office 365 customers. Turns out the effort also targets IBM customers...
Dave Seibert Dave Seibert
14. Coming Next Quarter: SMB TechFest, hosted by Dave Seibert, recent wrapped up its latest quarterly gathering n Southern California. The events are also broadcasted via video. To get a feel for the conference format and future events, keep an eye on the SMB TechFest conference calendar for future dates. 13. Internet of Things Platforms: Sure, RMM (remote monitoring and management) platforms may evolve to support the Internet of Things -- sensors and more. But a growing list of purpose-built IoT platforms has emerged. Two recent examples: TeraData's Internet of Things initiative and Digi's IoT platform for remotely monitoring all sorts of storage tanks. 12. Worth Watching: Commvault. Later today? Hmmm... 11. Join Me: At 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT for Tech News Today each Tuesday. Mike Elgan hosts the discussion. I'll be on as guest anchor. We'll be covering the IT news of the day... Mike Elgan 10. IT Services Company Valuations: Infosys, the global outsourcing and consulting company, acquired Noah Consulting LLC for $70 million in cash. Infosys gains expertise in the oil and gas consulting industry. Noah Consulting generated about $38.5 million in 2014 annual revenues. I suspect 2015 revenues will be closer to $45 million. Based on that, Infosys paid about 1.55 times future annual revenues. Sorry, I don't have EBITDA figures from which to work. 9. Data Center Company Valuations: So, you want to sell or buy a data center business. What's it worth? Perhaps a clue comes from TierPoint, which just acquired Windstream's data center business for $575 million -- an all-cash deal. The business is expected to generate about $122 million in annualized revenue. Based on that figure, the business was valued at 4.7 times future annual revenues. Alas, I don't have EBITDA figures for this valuation either. More: See Items 8 through 1 — including DropBox IPO pressure; Microsoft's next partner statement; a U.S.-based MSP expands to Europe and more. Oh... and that new Start Wars trailer. Page 2 of 2: Today's top channel partner updates, continued:
Phillip Liu Phillip Liu
8. Join Me Tonight: SignalFx CTO and Founder Phillip Liu will explain the next generation of cloud monitoring to me (and you) on ChannelE2E Podcast Episode 48. Tune in at 9:01 p.m. ET for the podcast when it goes live, or check out the recording anytime thereafter. 7. Oracle Cloud Momentum: Oracle says its ERP Cloud now has 1,300 customers -- a milestone statement ahead of the Oracle OpenWorld conference next week in San Francisco. Oracle, like many traditional enterprise IT firms, is striving to diversify beyond its traditional software and hardware sales model... 6. Channel M&A: Model N is buying Channelinsight, a provider of Channel Data Management (CDM) solutions. The combination provides customers with an end-to-end solution to manage their Global Channel Revenue, Model N asserted. 5. MSP Extends to Europe: Eze Castle Integration, a top MSP supporting hedge funds and the investment community, has expanded from U.S. soil to promote a cloud-based voice solution in the United Kingdom. 4. Apple Watch: Has anyone you know purchased one in the past 90 days? Anyone?
gavriella schuster Gavriella Schuster
3. Microsoft Partner Update: I expect to hear from Gavriella Schuster, general manager of Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Group, later today... Hmmm... Stay tuned. 2. The Missing KPI: As you strive to measure key performance indicators (KPIs), don't forget to track this one: Employee engagement. Anybody out there doing that? Anyone? Anyone? 1. DropBox IPO Pressure: Judgment Day might be coming for tech unicorns (i.e., startups with lofty valuations) and file and sync sharing. Indeed, DropBox's valuation is under pressure even before the company strives to IPO... ... Bonus: Surely you've seen the new Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens trailer a few dozen times by now? Here's the encore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGbxmsDFVnE Bonus II - Spoiler Alert: The image below, which I grabbed from the trailer, likely has special meaning. I suspect that's Luke's imperial shuttle in the lower foreground -- somehow abandoned on desert planet after he escaped Death Star II (Return of the Jedi) and wrapped up celebration on Endor Moon. In the background sky, I suspect that's a shuttle getting Skywalker back in the game... Text me Dec. 17 to discuss actual results. Star Wars 7 Spoiler Read Them All: Did you miss one of our 5 Channel Partner Observations? Find the archive here hereSubscribe: Receive ChannelE2E’s blog headlines, insights and updates in your inbox daily. Subscribe to our enewsletter. Thanks to those who already have. 
Joe Panettieri

Joe Panettieri is co-founder & editorial director of MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E, the two leading news & analysis sites for managed service providers in the cybersecurity market.